Folklore Stories to Strike Fear into a Phobic

​Folklore can be scary as it is, and some of these stories will only make folklore more disturbing for anyone with a phobia. Here are the top 5 folklore saints and characters those with phobias will be terrified of.

​St Vincent of Saragossa
​It is said that the patron saint of Lisbon and Valencia’s dead body was protected by ravens from vultures looking to feast on him. Vultures and ravens are quite intimidating birds and picturing them scavenging for human flesh is admittedly a disturbing image. Ornithophobes (people with the fear of birds) certainly won’t enjoy it.

​Medusa
​Medusa comes from ancient Greek myths. Medusa was a gorgon who could turn anyone who looked at her into stone. The Goddess Athena punished her with snakes for hair as Medusa had angered her. Anyone let alone those with Ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes) would cower in fear at the sight of her. 

​Saint Christopher
​Saint Christopher is known for being the patron saint of travelling, he is also known for being depicted as a “dog head”. This was believed to be a species of humans with the heads of a dog that devoured humans. Not a pretty sight as cynophobes likely agree.

​La Santa Muerte
​For anyone who has a fear of death either their own (Thanatophobia) or any death in general (necrophobia), Santa Muerte the folk saint of death in Mexico, probably won’t be their favourite of the saints. Even thinking about death can cause distress so having a personification of it doesn’t help. 

​Saint Gertrude of Nivelles
​The ultimate cat lady. Saint Gertrude is the patron saint of cats, although many can relate to the saint's love for cats it certainly isn’t uncommon. It’s hard to imagine someone ailurophobia (fear of cats) wanting to spend time with the saint and cat lovers surrounded by their cats.